Missing Teeth

There Are a Number of Viable Options for Replacing Missing Teeth

The loss of one or more teeth should not be taken lightly; while patients might still be able to bite, chew, and speak under such circumstances, missing teeth can have an impact on:

Cavities and tooth decay

Bite and arch of the teeth

Appearance (an aged look)

Gum disease and additional tooth loss

Overall body health

Eating

Food choices

Speech clarity

Self-confidence

Personal comfort

Jaw bone resorption

Fortunately, missing or extracted teeth can be replaced and, through recent advancements in technology, these replacements can be made to look and function very much like natural teeth. This can make a major difference to your quality of life from a practical perspective as well as to your self-esteem and confidence in family, social, and work settings.

There are three primary options to consider when replacing missing teeth; these choices are based on such factors as the health of your teeth and gums as well as your budget, and the Family Dental Care team will be pleased to discuss all of the alternatives with you – these options include:

Dental Implants

Permanent fixtures, or posts, that are anchored to the jawbone and capped with individual replacement teeth or a bridge cemented to the posts. Implants have revolutionized the field of dentistry with respect to the strength, function, and aesthetic beauty they can offer. Dental implants are a great option for replacing just a few teeth or multiple teeth.

The initial cost is higher; however there are significant long-term benefits relative to:

Support for your bite

Fewer overall complications

The overall health of your other teeth

Cost savings – less need for further dental work

Fixed Bridge

Dental restoration that spans a gap of missing teeth and is connected or bonded to the natural teeth at each end of the gap. The teeth adjacent to the missing teeth must be prepared for crowns; this involves reducing the teeth, which can sometimes lead to the need for root canal therapy. The initial cost of a fixed bridge is less than with implants.

After a few years, there can be some tooth decay around the bridge and a new bridge may be needed, along with further treatment of the adjacent teeth. Regular preventive dental visits and at-home dental care are both very important in maintaining a fixed bridge. When well-maintained, fixed bridges can often perform well for 15 to 20 years or even longer.

Dentures

Removable appliances manufactured for partial or complete replacement of the upper or lower arches of your teeth. Dentures that are well-made and well-fitting offer an economical solution for patients who are missing multiple teeth however, if it is possible, implants or fixed bridges should be considered over dentures. Implant-supported dentures are an excellent solution when all or multiple teeth are missing.

Over time, partial dentures can cause a fair amount of stress on other remaining natural teeth, and as a result, some of these natural teeth often need to be removed or treated for decay. Regular maintenance is always important factor in dental care and is even more so with dentures.

Based on the health of your mouth, the number of teeth being replaced, and your personal preferences, the above are all viable choices to replace missing teeth. Family Dental Care will help you make an informed decision on the option that is best for your specific situation.

Custom Manufactured Denture Solutions to Address Different Needs

For over 20 years, Dr. Vineet Sidhu from Family Dental Care has been making dentures to help improve the quality of life for patients with missing teeth. Throughout that time, these patients have benefitted from a range of denture options based on their personal needs and circumstances – these alternatives include:

Implant Retained Dentures – fastened to posts that are secured to the jawbone

Partial Dentures – replace one or more teeth and blend with the remaining teeth

Immediate Dentures – new teeth are in place the same day as extractions occur

In the majority of cases, custom-made dentures will fit well when first inserted in the mouth and very little adjustment will be required.

The dentist will advise you on the expected or longer term outcome of dentures, which in turn can depend on various factors such as:

Length of time the teeth were missing

Bone loss due to gum disease prior to loss of the teeth

Texture of the gums – thin, thick, or spongy

The shape and size of the jaw bone

Amount and type of saliva produced

In general, the upper denture tends to fit well as there is a good amount of gum and palatal tissue for its support. Retention of the lower denture can often pose a challenge due to a limited amount of gum tissue and the presence of the tongue, these factors can predispose the lower denture to not fitting as well as the upper denture.

There are times, however, when patience will be needed in order to get your dentures to fit and function properly and to the expectations of both the patient and the dentist; in such cases, there will be no additional charges for any in-office adjustments of dentures manufactured by Family Dental Care.

It is very important to us that our denture patients are able to eat, speak, and smile with as much comfort and confidence as possible, and we will persist with any adjustments/fittings until that goal is achieved.

Replacement teeth can be made to look and function just like your natural teeth. If you are missing one or more of your natural teeth, call Family Dental Care at 613-736-5000 or contact us to schedule a consultation on which of the various replacement options might be best suited to your individual needs.